Newcastle’s Brain Tumour Centre awarded "Centre of Excellence" status

Newcastle's Neuro Oncology Team Credit: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Newcastle’s brain tumour centre has been awarded as a centre of ‘excellence’ by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission.

It is one of ten hospitals across the UK to receive the recognition.

Jackie Daniel, Chief Executive of Newcastle Hospitals’ said she was “incredibly proud” of receiving national recognition as one of the top brain tumour centres in the country.


Dr Joanne Lewis, Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Freeman Hospital’s Northern Centre for Cancer Care said that the award is a “great honour for the team.”  


Around 370 people in the North East and North Cumbria diagnosed with brain cancer every year.

The criteria for Excellence status was measured on:

  • Clinical practice and training opportunities

  • Patient quality of life

  • Clinical trials

  • Research opportunities

Professor Katie Bushby and Professor Jimmy Steele Credit: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Katie Bushby has been working with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission on the assessment of the centres.

The professor of Neuromuscular Genetics at Newcastle University drew on her personal experiences of the brain tumour centre.

Two years ago, her husband was treated at the centre when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma.


The Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission was founded in memory of Tessa Jowell, to improve brain tumour research and treatment.

Tessa Jowell was diagnosed with a glioblastoma and lived less than two years following the diagnosis. Credit: PA Images

Jess Mills, Co-Founder of the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission and Tessa’s daughter, said they were “thrilled” to have awarded Newcastle Hospitals' “for its excellent ongoing work for patients and commitment to support other centres in reaching the same level of excellence.”